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Frome: Revised plans for 1,700 new homes awaits decision

BBC Muddy field and hills in the backgroundBBC
The land in Frome would be the site of 1,700 new homes on the southern edge of Frome

Residents are being asked to give their views on amended proposals for more than 1,700 new homes at the southern edge of a Somerset town.

Plans for the Selwood Garden Community in Frome, were originally put forward in 2021, but got a mixed response.

It would see fields next to the A361 transformed with the equivalent of 510 homes - 30% - being affordable.

A community hub including shops, cafes and offices, two care homes, and a primary school are also proposed.

A decision on the initial plans was delayed in April 2022 after National Highways raised concerns about how the development would affect the capacity of the A36 between Frome and Bath.

Improvements have now been put forward with changes to the Beckington and White Post roundabouts, widening several lanes and installing new high-friction surfacing to help slow traffic down.

The amended plans make numerous changes within the site including relocating the planned orchards and allotments; removing an all-weather pitch near the primary school and a grass pitch within the riverside park following feedback from Sports England.

Plans of new houses
Of the 1,7000 houses to be built on the development near Frome, 510 homes would be affordable

A spokesman for Grassroots Planning, representing the developer, said: "The removal of the proposed all-weather pitch will be replaced with off-site contributions, which will fund improvements to pitch facilities at Frome Rugby Football Club and Frome Town United Football Academy.

"These have been calculated to provide the same benefit in respect of pitch provision as the all-weather pitch and grass pitch that has been removed."

Andrew Edwards, who lives in Frome, said there had been a "blatant disregard" by the applicant regarding the archaeological impact of these homes and questioned whether any of the new community benefits would actually be delivered.

"It is time to name and shame the chartered archaeologists that work for these property developers since nothing else works.

"At the site where the Persimmon Homes estate was built above Asda, Frome was supposed to have a primary school and a new bridge; neither of these were ever attempted and neither will be built."

Somerset Council is expected to make a decision on the plans later in the year.

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